Diascia plant named ‘CODI101’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Diascia  plant named ‘CODI101’, characterized by its compact, dense, upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely flowering habit; and blue violet-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Diascia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘CODI101’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Diascia, botanically known as Diascia×hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘CODI101’.

The new Diascia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-flowering Diascia cultivars with uniform plant habit and attractive flower colors.

The new Diascia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in September, 2001 of a proprietary selection of Diascia×hybrida identified as code number X99.46.1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Diascia×hybrida identified as code number X99.46.4, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar CODI101 was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in October, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Diascia by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia since October, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Diascia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar CODI101 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘CODI101’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘CODI101’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Diascia:

-   -   1. Compact, dense, upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely flowering habit.     -   3. Blue violet-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Diascia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Diascia differ from plants of the female parent selection primarily in flower size as plants of the new Diascia have larger flowers than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Diascia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Diascia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the new Diascia have more reddish-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Diascia can be compared to plants of the Diascia×hybrida cultivar Codiared, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,176. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia, plants of the new Diascia differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Codiared in flower color as plants of the cultivar Codiared had red purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Diascia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Diascia.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘CODI101’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘CODI101’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Encinitas, Calif. in 12.5-cm containers in an outdoor nursery during the summer and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C., night temperatures averaged 12° C. and light levels averaged 6,000 footcandles. Plants were pinched twice and were about 14 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Diascia×hybrida cultivar CODI101. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Diascia×hybrida identified as code number X99.46.1, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Diascia×hybrida identified as code number X99.46.4, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About one week at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to develop roots, summer and winter.—About three weeks             at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Compact, dense, upright and             outwardly spreading plant habit. Vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about twelve             primary lateral branches each with potentially two secondary             lateral branches per node.         -   Plant height.—About 25 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 38 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 20 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical with cordate tendencies.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute to rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Shallow and irregularly serrated.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:             147A; venation, 147C. Developing and fully expanded foliage,             lower surface: 147B; venation, 147C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: 147C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Single flowers arranged on loose             terminal racemes. Freely flowering habit with usually about             65 open flowers and flower buds per lateral branch. Flowers             face upright and outwardly. Flowers not fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously             throughout the spring in southern California. Flowers last             about five days on the plant. Flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 11.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence width.—About 3.8 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 9 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Shape:             Rounded. Color: 91C.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals             modified into two banner petals, two lateral petals with             spurs and a protruding lip petal. Length: Banner petals:             About 4 mm. Lateral petals (including spurs): About 6 mm.             Lower lip petal: About 1 cm. Width: Banner petals: About             4 mm. Lateral petals: About 5 mm. Lower lip petal: About             9 mm. Shape: Rounded. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire; lower lip petal, slightly serrate. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, satiny. Color:             When opening, upper surface: 94C. When opening, lower             surface: 91C. Fully opened, upper surface: 90A to 90B;             towards the base of lower lip petal, 87B; central eyespot,             12B. Fully opened, lower surface: Slightly more grey than             91B.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a star-shaped             calyx. Length: About 2.5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape:             Elliptical. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Minute             pubescence. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: Erect to about 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Scattered pubescence. Color: 137A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Scattered pubescence. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About four.             Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: 71A. Anther             shape: Ovoid. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color:             14A. Amount of pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: 14A. Gynoecium:             Pistil length: About 4 mm. Style length: About 2 mm. Style             color: 144B. Stigma appearance: Rounded. Stigma color: 144A.             Ovary color: 146C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Diascia have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 0° C. to about 32° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Diascia have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Diascia. 

1. A new and distinct Diascia plant named ‘CODI101’ as illustrated and described. 